Kolkata: Two nursing students, who were arrested after confessing to their involvement in the killing of 16 puppies at state-run Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRS Medical College) premises, have been granted bail by a city court.

On January 13, carcasses of 16 puppies were found in plastic bags in front of a hostel at the medical college. Preliminary reports revealed that the puppies were beaten to death.

Acting on an FIR lodged on Monday, the police had identified some students and security guards on the basis of CCTV footage and interrogated them for hours. The NRS medical college authorities had ordered an internal inquiry, reports PTI.

Of them, two nursing students admitted to their involvement in the crime and they were arrested, Entally police station officer-in-charge Supriyo Pal had informed.

Recently, outside the chief judicial magistrate court at Sealdah in the city, where the two nursing students were produced; animal lovers were seen shouting slogans and waving placards demanding exemplary punishment for the culprits.

Speaking to the New Indian Express, Advocate Md Sajid, who represented animal rights activist associations in the court, confirmed, “They were granted bail against registered security of Rs 2,000 and a local of security of another Rs 2,000…”

Millennium Post reports that the three-member committee constituted by the medical college authorities submitted a report to the hospital on 16th January.

In its report, the committee has held the two nursing students responsible for the killing the animals on the basis of which the hospital authorities have decided not to allow them to attend classes till the probe is complete. Steps would be taken against the three others who are said to be third-year students of nursing.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh on Wednesday announced that the civic body would conduct vaccination and sterilisation programme in all hospitals and government establishment premises, adds PTI.